Composite material for medical devices and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A composite material for medical devices includes a superelastic shape memory alloy configured or constituting a matrix and a metal oxide which is dispersed in the matrix.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A medical device comprising:
 one of a stent, a guide wire, an embolization coil, an inferior vena cava filter, and an orthodontics wire made of a composite material comprising a superelastic shape memory alloy matrix in which a metal oxide is dispersed; 
 wherein the superelastic shape memory alloy matrix is a sintered body made from a superelastic shape memory alloy powder, and the metal oxide is metal oxide particles dispersed in the superelastic shape memory alloy powder in an amount from 0.10% by volume to 0.5% by volume, and wherein the metal oxide particles are any one of 0.15% by volume to 0.5% by volume of TiO 2  and 0.10% by volume to 0.2% by volume of Al 2 O 3 ; and 
 wherein the superelastic shape memory alloy powder is a TiNi-based alloy powder. 
 
     
     
       2. The medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the TiNi-based alloy powder contains 54.5% by mass to 57% by mass of Ni and a residue consists of Ti and unavoidable impurities. 
     
     
       3. The medical device according to  claim 2 , wherein the unavoidable impurities consists of 0.050% by mass or less of Co, 0.010% by mass or less of Cu, 0.010% by mass or less of Cr, 0.005% by mass or less of H, 0.050% by mass or less of Fe, or 0.050% by mass or less of Nb. 
     
     
       4. The medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide particles are TiO 2  dispersed in the superelastic shape memory alloy powder in an amount from 0.15% by volume to 0.5% by volume. 
     
     
       5. The medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide particles are Al 2 O 3  dispersed in the superelastic shape memory alloy powder in an amount of approximately 0.2% by volume. 
     
     
       6. A medical device composite material, comprising:
 a superelastic shape memory alloy constituting a matrix; 
 a metal oxide dispersed in the matrix; 
 wherein the superelastic shape memory alloy matrix is a sintered body made from a superelastic shape memory alloy powder, and the metal oxide is metal oxide particles dispersed in the superelastic shape memory alloy powder in an amount from 0.10% by volume to 0.5% by volume, and wherein the superelastic shape memory alloy powder is TiNi-based alloy powder, and the metal oxide particles and the additive amount thereof are any one of 0.15% by volume to 0.5% by volume of TiO 2  and 0.10% by volume to 0.2% by volume of Al 2 O 3 ; and 
 wherein the superelastic shape memory alloy powder is a TiNi-based alloy powder. 
 
     
     
       7. The medical device composite material according to  claim 6 , wherein the medical device composite material is obtained by sintering the superelastic shape memory alloy powder and the metal oxide comprised of the metal oxide particles. 
     
     
       8. The medical device composite material according to  claim 6 , wherein the TiNi-based alloy powder contains 54.5% by mass to 57% by mass of Ni and a residue consists of Ti and unavoidable impurities. 
     
     
       9. The medical device composite material according to  claim 8 , wherein the unavoidable impurities consists of 0.050% by mass or less of Co, 0.010% by mass or less of Cu, 0.010% by mass or less of Cr, 0.005% by mass or less of H, 0.050% by mass or less of Fe, or 0.050% by mass or less of Nb. 
     
     
       10. The medical device composite material according to  claim 6 , wherein the metal oxide particles are TiO 2  dispersed in the superelastic shape memory alloy powder in an amount from 0.15% by volume to 0.5% by volume. 
     
     
       11. The medical device composite material according to  claim 6 , wherein the metal oxide particles are Al 2 O 3  dispersed in the superelastic shape memory alloy powder in an amount of approximately 0.2% by volume.